The first team squad will be wearing a new training kit this Monday, which will have the Qatar Foundation name on it.
For the moment, this will be the only appearance of the Qatar Foundation logo on the first team
kit, with the logo set to appear on the full playing kit next season following the deal struck last
December.
That deal, which will start on July 1st 2011, includes a payment of 15 million Euros for the
2010/11 season for commercial rights.
Two different colours, but no Sidra tree
There are two models of the new training kit; the first has a pink shirt
with the Qatar name on in navy blue, whilst the other is grey with pink lettering. The kit will not
contain the image of the Sidra tree – the national tree of Qatar and principal image of the
Qatar Foundation logo.
These training kit shirts will not be on general sale and there will be no shirts with the
Qatar Foundation logo on for purchase until the official 2011/12 kit is unveiled.
Record deal
The change in the training kit is part of the deal signed on December 13th last
year between FC Barcelona and the Qatar Foundation for the organisation to become the Club’s
official shirt sponsor.
The deal will bring the Club 30 million Euros for each season from July 1st 2011 until 30th
June 2016, as well as a maximum bonus for titles won of up to 5 million Euros. In addition, the
Club will receive 15 million Euros for commercial rights this season, with the potential total for
the whole agreement reaching 170 million Euros.
Support for knowledge and education
The Qatar Foundation, which was founded in 1995, is a non-governmental charity organisation
based on the principals of education, science and research. As their vice-president Saif Ali
Al-Hajari declared on the day the agreement with Barça was signed: “Qatar Foundation supports
the development journey of an economy based on oil and gas towards one based on knowledge,
favouring human potential, which will benefit not just the Qatar people, but all of
humanity”.
Qatar Foundation and Barça share the same values and the deal will also help children with
their sporting development: “we share the same vision and culture as Barça, as we use sport
to help society as a whole”, declared Ahmad al Sulaiti, executive director of Qatar Sports
Investment.